Abstract
Purpose: The main purpose of the research conducted was the analysis of kinematic and biomechanical parameters measured during manual wheelchair ramp-climbing with the use of the anti-rollback system and the comparison of the values tested with the manual wheelchair climbing the same ramp but without any modifications. The paper presents a quantitative assessment relating to the qualitative research of the anti-rollback system performed by another research team. Method and materials: The article presents the measurement results of the wheelchair motion kinematics and the activity of four upper limb muscles for eight subjects climbing a 4.58° ramp. Each subject propelled the wheelchair both with and without the anti-rollback system. The kinematic parameters were measured by means of two incremental encoders with the resolution of 500 impulses per single revolution of the measurement wheel. Whereas, the muscle activity was measured by means of surface electromyography with the use of Noraxon Mini DTS apparatus equipped with four measurement channels. Results: The surface electromyography measurement indicated an increase in the muscle activity for all four muscles, during the use of the anti-rollback system. The increase was: 18.56% for deltoid muscle anterior, 12.37% for deltoid muscle posteriori, 13.0% for triceps brachii, and 15.44% for extensor carpi radialis longus. As far as the kinematics analysis is concerned, a decrease in the measured kinematic parameters was observed in most participants. The medium velocity of the propelling cycle decreased by 26%. The ratio of the generated power and the loss power in a single propelling cycle λ had decreased by 18%. The least decrease was recorded for the measurement of mechanical energy E and the propelling cycle duration time. For the total mechanical energy, the decrease level was 3%, and for the propelling cycle duration it was 1%. The research carried out did not demonstrate any impact of the anti-rollback system use on the push phase share in the entire propelling cycle.
Highlights
A disabled person moving on a manual wheelchair pushes the drive wheels with their upper limbs what results in the linear motion of the wheelchair [1,2]
One of the most demanding obstacles most frequently faced by a wheelchair user are slopes and ramps [5], this problem worsens with unfavorable weather conditions [6]
Three complete propelling cycles were separated from each climbing made by a participant, and they were subject to a further kinematic and biomechanical analysis
Summary
A disabled person moving on a manual wheelchair pushes the drive wheels with their upper limbs what results in the linear motion of the wheelchair [1,2]. Sci. 2020, 10, 8757 perform cyclic propelling motions consisting of a push phase and a phase of hand returning to their initial position [7]. During the hands return phase, the wheelchair begins to slow down abruptly and if another push is not performed in a proper time interval, the system will start to roll down the ramp. This is an effect of the gravity force impact on the system, which results in so called slope resistance [8,9,10]
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